Landing flare and releasing means therefor



March 1, 1932. s. WILEY LANDING FLARE AND RELEASING MEANS THEREFOR vFiled July 26, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet l March 1, 1932. s wlLEY 1,847,545

LANDING FLARE AND RELEASING MEANS THEREFOR Filed July 26, 1930 6Sheets-Sheet 2 March 1,1932. w EY 1,847,545

LANDING FLARE AND RELE ASING MEANS THEREFOR Filed July 26, 1930 6Sheets-Sheet 3 r ca? 7 P r l "u. I .53 I J? lllllllll 4 J 7 447 March 1,1932. Wm 1,847,545

LANDING FLARE AND RELEASING MEANS THEREFOR Filed July 26, 1950 6Sheets-Sheet 4 March 1, 1932. 5, WILEY 1,847,545

LANDING FLARE AND RELEASING MEANS THEREFOR Filed July 26, 1930 '6 SheetsSheet 5 a 4 Q, munwluqu mun:

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LANDING FLARE AND RELEA'SING MEANS THEREFOR Filed July 26, 1930 6Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Mar. 1 1932 SAMUEL WILEY, OF METUCHEN, NEWJERSEY LANDING FLARE AND RELn-Asmer MEANS THEREFOR Application filedJuly 26, 1930. Serial N0. 470,976.

The present invention has reference to illuminating parachute flaresadapted to be dropped from aircraft at night to illuminate terrain orwater beneath the aviator, and enable him to make a safe landing onunknown territory. The invention also relates to flares which may beused for night observation, photography and the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved releasingmeans for carrying and releasing the flare, and which may be installedin aircraft either singly or in multiple, and either with or without alaunching tube, as later herein described.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flare which iswater-proof, simple in construction, positive in functioning and whichmay be easily installed in the releasing device and released.

At the present time, the parachute emergeney landing flare falls fromthe releasing device by gravity, and therefore, one end of the flarecasing is difficult to seal, such as the top or bottom thereof,depending upon whether the luminant drops from the bottom, or theparachute is drawn from the top of the flare, as the latter descends. Itis, therefore, a purpose of thisinvention to improve the flare and itsreleasing device. to overcome this difficulty.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a flare of improvedconstruction, and a supporting and releasing means therefor, which isofan improved construction to co 5 operate with the flare, so that theflare may be sealed at top and bottom, and when placed in the releasingdevice, is automatically partially opened, and when released iscompletely opened by its action of falling, so as to 0 insure exposingthe parachute to the action of the air, and consequently insure theproper support and setting off of the flare.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will bemore fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointedout in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or correspondingparts through out the several views,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a flare mounted and latched in areleasing device, the flare and releasing device being constructedaccording to the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective View of the flare cap and its slidingsupport.

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken centrally through the flare and itsreleasing device, the section being taken axially at right angles to theshowing in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken through the intermediate portionof the flare on the line 5.5 of Figure 4, the view being enlarged. I

Figure 6 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the flareimmediately after the same has been released completely from thereleasing device and the flare cap.

igure 7 isa similar view showing a flare mounted on the slidable carrierand about to be moved up into the releasing device.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of a flare connected to the releasingdevice, showing a modification in the supporting slide means.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side'elevation of the same.

Figure 10 is-a detail perspective view of the slide for the flare cap.

Figure 11 is a side elevation of the release guide, showing the lowerend of the same and a cap in its lowermost position subsequent to therelease of the flare.

Figure 12 is a detail perspective view of one of the cap holders carriedon the lower end of the releasing guide.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified form ofreleasing device and flare for cooperation therewith.

Figure 14 is a transverse section taken through the upper end portion ofthe same on the line 14-14 of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a detail transverse section, enlarged, taken through thecap and the sup porting means therefor, on the line 1515 of Figure 14:.

Figure 16 is a detail perspective view showing the combined cap turningand latch releasing levers.

Figure 17 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a multiple releasedevice showing means for consecutively releasing flares one at a time.

Figure 18 is a top plan view of the same.

Figure 19 is a detail perspective view of one of the cap stops disposedin relation to the cap projection, and

Figure 20 is a detail perspective view of the slide bar for releasingthe flares from the multiple holder of Figure 17.

Referring now to the drawings, and first to the form of the inventiondisclosed in Figures 1 to 5, 25 designates the casing of the flarewhichis of combustible material and contains an illuminatingcomposition. The casing 25 contains the luminant of the flare and issurmounted by a parachute casing 26 of any suitable material, preferablylight sheet metal, and which at its lower end embraces and is secured bynails, screws, or the li,ke, to the upper end of the combustible casing25. The upper and lower compartments of the flare are separated by ahorizontal partition 27 in the form of a wood block, or other suitablematerial or device. As shown particularly in Figure 4, the wood block 27is hollowed out at its upper side to provide a depressed chamber in itsupper face, and is likewise hollowed out in its lower side to provide alower chamber. The intermediate portion of the block 27 is apertured andis rabbeted at its under side about the aperture to provide a seatingflange 28, against which is seated an igniter in the form of a block ofwood 29, or the like. The igniter 29 is provided with a length offriction wire 30 having its ends extending downwardly through theigniter 29, and which may comprise a plurality of strands twisted orbraided to gether, and with the strands intermediate the ends of thewire 30 separated for the reception of the shank of a screw 31, which iscarried in the upper depressed side of the block 29. A thin disk 32 ofsoft aluminum, or other suitable material, is held in place by a paperor fiber washer 33 for the purpose of placing tension on the frictionwire 30.

The ends of the friction wire 30 pass through friction primers 34, whichare mounted in the block 29. The screw 31 extends upwardly through thefriction wire 30 and the disks 32 and 33, and engages the intermediateportion of a U-shaped clip 35, the upstandin arms of which are aperturedfor the reception of one strand or length of the suspension cable 36which leads to the parachute. The lower ends of the cable 36 may beattached to the flare in any suitable manner, but referably by passingthe lower free ends of t e cable 36 through openings in the partitionblock 27, knotting the lower extremities of the cable ends and seatingthe same with lead or the like in countersinks in the lower side ofthepartition'27, as clearly shown in Figure 4. The clip 35is engaged withan intermediate portion of the cable 36, so that when the clip 35 istaken up by the upper portion of the cable, there is still considerableslack in the lower portion of the cable, so that the weight of the flareis imposed directly upon the clip 35 and the parts connected thereto forquickly dislodging said parts from the partition block 27, and drawingthe friction wire 30 through the primers 34 to set off the flare. Thecentral portion of the luminant casing 25 is provided with a flash tube37 of any suitable diameter and construction, and which extendscentrally therethrough, and in which is placed a quickmatch 38, whichleads from the lower compartment of the partition 27 to the underside ofthe body of illuminating material, so that the body of illuminatingmaterial is lighted only at its lower end, and is adapted to first blowor burn out the easily removable bottom 39 for normally protecting theluminant by closing the lower end of the casing 25.

The flare thus constructed is provided preferably opposite the partitionblock 27 with an overturned or downwardly directed hook 40 disposed atone side of the flare. The hook 40 is provided with a shank portion 41of reduced width, as clearly shown in Figures 4 and '5, the hook 40outstanding from the side of the flare for a purpose which willhereinafter appear.

Disposed in the upper casing or compartment 26 is a parachute 42 of anysuitable construction, which is provided with 4 shrouds 43 connected attheir lower ends to the upper end portion of the suspension cable 36.The upper parachute casing 26 is provided with a cap 44 which isconstructed of the desired suitable depth, and which has its dependingwall or flange arranged to overlap the upper end portion of the casing26, and which is detachably interlocked therewith by correspondingdepressions or projections 45 on the cap and the casing, and which aredisposed in the manner of a bayonet slot or pin for holding the cap 44firmly upon the upper end of the flare when the cap is turned on theflare into a full locking position. The cap 44 is provided on its topwith an upwardly offset strap or handle 46, by means of which the flaremay be manipulated in packing, unpacking and adjusting the same forapplication to the airplane. The strap .46 is adapted to receive thereinthe horizontal shank 47 of a sliding support or shoe 48,. The shank 47is preferably flat and hollow and adapted to engage through the openingor slot provided beneath the intermediate upset portion of the straphandle 46.

The hollow shank 47 is provided with a spring tongue 49 which is securedat its inner end by means of bolts and nuts 50 to the upper wall of theshank 47, and at its outer end carries a locking dog 51, which is provided at its outer end and side with a bevel or cam face adapted to engae against one edge of the handle 46, as the are is pressed inwardlytoward the inner end of the shank 47 As soon as the dog 51 escapes pastthe outer edge of the handle 46, the spring tongue 49 snaps the dog 51upwardly into position at the edge of the strap 46, so as to holdtheshank 47 from being withdrawn through the handle. The tongue 49 extendsbeyond the end of the shank 47 and provides a lip 52, which will bedepressed by the thumb or finger for retracting the dog 51 out of thepath of the handle 46, so that the cap of the flare. may be quickly andeasily removed from the sliding support 48.

As is best shown in Figure 3, the sliding 7 support 48 may comprise aflat plate which is turned upwardly from the inner end of the shank 47and which is provided near its upper end and at its lateral edges witha. pair of relatively narrow tongues or arms 53 shaped and so disposedrelatively to each other as to embrace the opposite outer faces of apair of outwardly flaring vertically disposed guide flanges 54. Theflanges 54 are on the channel body 55 of the releasing device. Thechannel shaped body is vertically disposed and provided at its upper andlower ends with brackets 56 of any suitable construction andconfiguration adapted for attachment to aircraft for holding the channelmember 55 in substantially vertical position.

The lower end of the channel member 55 is provided with a pair of stops57, which maybe in the form of angle irons, as shown in Figure 1,secured to the opposite sides of the channel member 55, and extendingacross the lower ends thereof to provide abutments against which thetongues 53 are adapted to strike when the sliding support movesdownward, into its lowermost position. These stops 57 are adapted'toengage the cover carrier and suddenly arrest the downward travel of thecover,-so thatthe body portion of the flare will be separated from thecover merely by the force of inertia when the travel of the cover issuddenly arrested.

lVhen the flare is first raised into the releasing device, the cap 44 isprimarily or initially released to some extent from the upper end of theflare body. To accomplish this, the channel member 55 is provided in itslower end portion, and intermediate the wings 54, with a vertical slot58 of suflicient size to receive the neck portion 41 of the hook 40, andthe lateral marginal edges of the slots 58 and the lowerend of thelatter are bevelled and flare downwardly. These flared edges of the slot58 provide a downwardly flaring mouth adapted to receive the neck 41 ofthe hook, and deflect the hook into true alignment with the slot 58 asthe flare is forced upwardly. The hook 40, therefore, turns the body ofthe flare as the latter is moved upwardly into the releasing device,where the -cap 44 is carried by the shank 47 and held against turning.

The result is that the units of the bayonet slots will be operated tosome degree, such as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, the bayonet slotelements being so proportioned and arranged as to eflect an initialupward movement of the cap 44 on the body portion of the flare as thelatter turns within and beneath the cap.

For the purpose of holding the flare, with its cap, in raised setposition in the releasing device, a pivoted latch 59, mounted on a pivot60 on the back or outer side of the channel member 55, is provided witha downwardly extending and edgewise ofi'set hook 61 proportioned toengage beneath the shank 41 of the hook 40 and support the flare by theinterlocking engagement of .the hooks 40 and 61. The hook 61 has a lowerbevelled face adapted to be engaged by the shank portion 41 of the flarehook for swinging the latch hook 61 to oneside during the upwardmovement of the hook 40 into its normal set position- The latch lever 59is urged to turn into locking position by a spring 62 and is maintainedin a normal set position by a stop pin 63, as shown in Figure 1. A

releasing cord 64is connected to the upper end of the latch 59.and isadapted to be drawn against the tension of the spring 62 'for swingingthe latch 59 and releasing the hook 61 thereof from thewflare hook 40.

The operation of this preferred form of the invention is as follows In Figure 7, the sliding support 48 is in its lowermost posit-ion, such asit assumes after a flare has been discharged, and the cap of thedischarged flare has been removed from the shank 47. A new flare is thusengaged by its strap 46 with the shank 47, and then the flare is graspedby its lower end and pushed upwardly, the sliding support 48 movingupwardly on the wings 54 of the guide channel strip 55. During thisupward movement, the flare hook 40 is offset angularly with respect tothe axis of the flare, and with respect to the transverse position ofthe strap 46 and the shank 47, so that,

as shown by the central axial line in F igure 7, the hook 40 'is offsetunder one side with respect to the guide slot 58 of the channel member55. However, as the flare reaches its uppermost position, the shank 41of the hook engages the bevelled edges of the slot 58, and the bodyportion of the flare is turned on its axis and within the cap 44 fromsubstantially the position shown in Figure 7 to the position shown inFigure 1. The cap 44 is held against turning as it is interlocked withthe sliding carrier 48, and thus the elements of the bayonet slotconnections between the flare body and the flare cap are released tosuch extent that the cap is readily removed by a direct relativelylongitudinal movement between the cap and the flare body.

As the flare body is thus forced up into position and ,turned to releasethe bayonet slot locks of the cap, the hook 40 also performs thefunction of retracting the latch lever 59 and of finally interlockingwith the hook 61 thereof, and thus securely hold the flare inraisedposition and with the cover partly released. I

When it is desired to release the flare, the aviator draws the releasecord 64 a distance sufficient to swing the hook 61 from beneath theflare hook 40, .so that the body of the flare and the cap aresimultaneously released. the cap and flare body falling downwardly withthe hook 40 sliding in the slot 58, and the support 48 connected to thecap sliding on the wing flanges 54. The flare, with its cap, gainsmomentum as it falls, and when the sliding support 48 reaches the lowerend of the guide channel 55, the tongues 53 of the sliding supportengage the stops 57, and thus bring the sliding support 48 suddenly to astop. The momentum of the body portion of the flare, together with itsweight, is more than sufficient to pull the upper end of the casing 26out of the cap 44, so that the parachute compartment is open, and as thecap 44 may have considerable depth, the upper end of the parachute isexposed, so that the air has easy access thereto for opening theparachute and drawing the shrouds 43 and the suspension cable 36 taut.

As the cable 36 is drawn taut, and before it takes up the weight of theflare, the cable pulls the clip 35 out of its seat in the fuse block 29,breaking the adjacent paper seals, and the like, and drawing thefriction wire 30 through the primers 34 to produce the desired spark forigniting the quickmatch 38,

which leads down through the tube 37. The flare, being thus ignited, thesuspension cable 36 is still further drawn to taut position, so as tosuspend the flare from the partition block 27, which is secured in theupper end of the luminant casing 25.

Figure 6 shows the flare body immediately subsequent to its release fromthe stopped cap 44, and wherein the parachute is acted on by the air andis partly withdrawn from its casing 26. The cap 44 is now removed fromthe horizontal shank 47 by depressing the spring tongue 52 anddepressing the dog 51 out of engagement with the handle 46. The nextflare is mounted on the shank 47 by merely sliding the handle 46 of theflare over the shank into the position shown in Figures 4 and 7 Theoperation-is now repeated with respect to the new flare.

With reference to the modification shown in Figures 8 to 12, bothinclusive, the flare cap 44 is provided across its top with a straphandle 65 of any suitable configuration to facilitate the handling andtransportation of the flare.

Projecting from one end of the handle 65 is a stop projection 66 for apurpose which will hereinafter appear, and from the opposite end of thehandle 65, there projects from the cap 44 a supporting plate 67 which isriveted or otherwise suitably secured in flat relation on the upper sideof the cap 44, and with one edge portion of the plate projectingconsiderably beyond the adjacent side of the cap. The projecting edgeportion of the plate 67 is recessed and provided with inwardly divergingslots 68 providing passages or ways adapted to receive the wings 54 ofthe vertical guide channel 55 forming the frame or body part of thereleasing mechanism. The plate 67 is, therefore, maintained inhorizontal position at right angles to the guide channel 55, so as tohold the cap 44 in outstanding substantially horizontal relation to theguide channel. The supporting plate 67 is provided, outwardly of theslots 68, with spaced downturnedfingers 69, which lie at opposite s'desof the channel rail 55, and which are adapted to align with and bereceived in hook sockets 70 which, as shown in Figures 9 and 12particularly, are riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the lowerends of the channel rail 55. As the plate 67 is riveted or otherwisepermanently secured to the cap 44, it is necessary to remove the plate67, with the cap 44, from the releasing device after each discharge of aflare. For this reason, the wings 54 are cut away to provide slots 71 attheir lower ends, and immediately above the socket hooks 70, so thatafter the flare body has left the cap 44, the cap may be grasped in thehand and easily raised into position for releasing the fingers 69 fromthe hooks 70, and then draw the plate 67 forwardly and outwardly fromthe vertical guide rail.

Referring now to the modification shown in Figures 13 to 16, the cap 44may be of the construction disclosed in Figure 1, and provided with astrap handle 46 adapted to receive the shank 47 of the verticallysliding support 48. The support 48 is slidably mounted on the verticalchannel rail 55, and engages the wings 54 thereof, as above set forth.The cap 44 is provided at one side with a substantially radiallyextending lug or projection 72 adapted to lie beneath the shank 47, whenthe flare cap is mounted on the shank, and which also projects towardthe channel rail 55. The present modification embodies means engagingthe lug 72 for turning the cap 44, while the hook 40 holds the bodyportion of the flare from turning, so as to release orunlock the bayonetjoints betwecnthe cap and the flare body. To this end, the channelrail55 has at its outer side a latch lever 7 3 pivoted at 7 4 in a mannersimilar to the mounting of the latch lever 59. The latch lever 73carries at its lower end the hook 61 to interlock, as above described,with the hook 40. A springv 75 engages the latch lever 73 at a pointbelow the pivot 74, and the latch lever is provided with a tail piece 76which extends upwardly from the pivot 74 and lies closely adjacent toone side of a cap turning lever 77. The lever 77 is pivotally mounted atits lower end on the pivot 74, and is provided at its rear edge with alaterally turned projection 78, which registers with the rear edge ofthe tail piece 76, so that when the lever 7 is swung forwardly through apredeten mined distance, the overturned lug 78 will then take againstthe tail piece 77 and impart any continued movement of the lever 77 tothe latch 73.

The lever 77 is apertured at its upper end for the reception of the endof a combined cap unlocking and flare release cord 79. The lever 77 isalso provided near its upper and at its forward edge with an inwardlyextending projection 80 lying in the path of the lug 4 72 of the cap 44,so that the forward swinging of the lever 77 brings the projection 80into contact with the lug 72 and moves the lug laterally of the guidechannel 55, and thus turns the cap 44 on the body of the flare, so as topartly release the ,cap, or at least unwhich may be used. The lever 77may be provided with a separate spring 81 for normally returning thelever 77 into position out of engagement with the latch lever 7 3. andso as to clear the lug 72 and admit of the up-" ward sliding movement ofa new flare into position after the discharge and removal of the firstflare.

The cap 44 is turned with respect to the sliding support 48 and itsshank 47, held fixed to the wings 54. The shank 47 is relatively narrowas compared. with the width. of the upwardly offset handle 46, so thatthe cap, with the handle 46 secured thereto, may rock or swing freely toa limited extent, but with suificient amplitude to release the bayonetslot, or other interlocking means, between the cap and the flare body.

With reference now to Figures 17 and 18, there is shown an embodiment ofthe invention adapted to support and release, in a desired manner, twoor more flares. For the purpose of convenience in explanation andillustration, the device is disclosed as adapted for individual,intermittent and consecutive delivery of three flares. Of course, anydesired number of flares may be used, and they may be grouped in anydesired manner. The casing 82 is divided by partitions 83 into threevertical compartments open at their lower ends. Each compartment isprovided with the vertical channel'strip 55, and its accompanying parts,such as .shown in Figure 1. The latch levers 59, however, are

not directly connected to a release cord, but are provided at theirupper ends with forwardly bevelled projections 84, which also haverearwardly facing shoulders. A releasing bar 85 is arranged horizontallyacross the upper ends of the latch levers 59, and is slidably supportedon fixed pins 86 suitably mounted on the casing 82, and which engagethrough slots 87 arranged in the opposite end portions of the releasingbar 85. The releasing bar 85 is provided with a pendant sear 88 for eachlatch lever 59, and the sears 88 are arranged in consecutivelyincreasing distances apart from the lugs or projections 84 of the latchlevers 59 to insure the tripping of the preceding latch lever prior tothe movement of. the succeeding sear 88 into position to operate thenext latch lever 59. The releasing bar 85 is connected at its rear endto a return cord 89 adapted to draw the bar 85 rear wardly into aninitial position determined by the engagement of the pins 86 in theforward ends of the slots 87.

Each sea-r 88 has a stop pin 90 arranged to engage the rear edge thereoffor holding the sear 88 against swinging backwardly from the projection84 when the releasing bar 85 is moved in a forward direction. It will benoted that the scars 88 have rearwardly bevelled lower ends adapted tocooperate with lock it from the bayonet slot, or other device theforwardly bevelled upper ends of the lugs 84 for tripping the sears 88over the projections 84, as the releasing bar 85 is returned to normalposition.

The releasing bar 85 is provided in itsupper edge with a plurality ofteeth or shoulders 91, one tooth or shoulder for each latch bar 59employed. A slide bar 92, shown in detail in Figure=20, is mounted overthe releasing bar 85. The slide bar 92 is preferably of channelconstruction and carries intermediate its ends a dog 93 normally urgeddownwardly at its free end by a spring 94 for interlocking the dog withone ofthe teeth 91. The slide bar 92 has at each end longitudinal slots95,

through which engage fixed supporting pins 96. The slots 95 are of suchlength as to permit of the longitudinal movement of the slide bar 92 adistance equal to the advancement of the releasing bar 85 suflicientlyto release one latch bar 59. This insures that but one flare at a timewill be released, and upon each pull on the release cord 97, which isattached to the forward end of the slide bar 92. A spring 98 isconnected at one end in fixed relation in the casing 82, and at itsother end is attached to the rear end of the slide bar 92 for drawingthe same backwardly into normal position of rest against the stop pins96.

Itis apparent that when the release cord 97 is drawn forwardly, theslide bar 92 moves therewith against the tension of spring 98, and thedog 93 engages the first tooth 91 and pulls the releasing bar 85 alongwith the slide bar until the pins 96 arrest the motion of both of thebars. During this first movement of the bar 92, the first sear 88 tripsthe first latch lever 59 and releases the first flare. The releasing bar85 remains in this position while the spring 98 returns the slide bar 92to its normal position, and the dog 93 slides over the second tooth andinterlocks therewith.

The second time the release cord 97 is pulled, the slide bar 92 againadvances within the limit of its slots 95 and steps the releasing bar 85forwardly another distance sufficient to move the second sear 88 to tripthe second latch lever 59 and bring the third sear into positionadjacent the shoulder of the third projection 84. The releasing bar 85remains in advanced position each time, so that it is gradually steppedforward to bring the sears 88 first into position to operate andadjacent latch lever 59, and then to operate the same. After all of theflares have been discharged from the casing 82, the cord 89 is thenpulled to return the releasing bar 85 to its original position, and allof the sears 88 freely trip over the upper ends of the projections 84. Acord 99 is provided for the dog 93 to raise the same and admit thereturn of the teeth 91 with their bar 85 to normal position.

Another feature, which is disclosed in connection with the multiple organg release, is

the provision in the lower end of the casing 82, and in each compartmentthereof, with the pivoted stop lever 99 pivoted near one end on a pivot100, and resting at its outer end on a stop 101. The heel or inner endof the lever 99 is connected to a spring 102 suitably mounted in thecasing 82 for normally holding the free end of the stop lever 99downwardly on its rest 101. Each stop lever is arranged diametricallyopposite to the stops 57 on the lower end of the vertical channel rail55. The stop lever 99 is adapted to yield against upward pressure of theoutwardly extending stop lugs 66, shown in Figure 8, on the remote sideof the cap or cover 44 so that the cap or cover will be supported inlike manner in opposite sides of the compartment, as the flare movesdownwardly and is discharged from the releasing device.

To protect the flare when in the launching device, the lower end of eachcompartment in the casing 82 may be provided with a dust cap 104 oflight material.- The dust cap 104 may be of disk form and conforms inshape to the cross sectional configuration of the compartment andprovided with a downturned marginal flange seating against the innerwalls of the compartment and seating the cap 104 therein. Bendabletongues 105 are carried on the lower edges of the flanges of the cap 104and are bent or rolled outwardly and upwardly over lugs 106 to yieldablyhold the caps 104 in place.

The weight of the flare is adapted to force the cap 104 out of the lowerend ofthe compartment when the flare is released. The

caps 104 prevent entry of dust, water and the like up intothe casing 82,and thus protect the flares when adjusted in the launching device.

It will be obvious that various changes in the construction, combinationand arrangement of the parts could be made, which could be used withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention, and I do not mean to limitthe invention to such details, except as particularly pointed out in theclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States is 1. An illuminating parachuteflare, comprising an illuminant casing, a parachute casing connectedthereto, a parachute mounted in the parachute casing, igniter meanscarried in the lower casing connected to the parachute for setting oilthe flare and the parachute having connection with said luminant casingfor supporting the same, a cap detachably interlocked upon the upper endof the parachute casing, releasable supporting means for receiving thecasings by axial turning thereof, and cap retaining means between thecap and the releasable supporting means to hold the cap from turning forinitially unlocking the cap upon the positioning of the flare on saidsupporting means.

2. An illuminating parachute flare, comprising upper and lower casings,a parachute mounted in the upper casing and connected to the lowercasing, a cap interlocked by relative rotary movement upon the upper endof the upper casing, supporting means for the flare, cooperating meansbetween the supporting means the upper casing and the cap for relativelyturning the upper casing and the cap to initially release the cap uponthe positioning of the flare upon the supporting means, and stop meansfor engaging the cap upon a predetermined downward movement of the flarewhen released to completely remove the cap from the casing.

3. An illuminating parachute flare, comprising a luminant casing andaparachute casing connected thereto, an igniter carried in the luminantcasing, a parachute mounted 1n the-parachute casing and connected to theigniter to operate the same upon the initial opening of the parachuteand connected to the luminant casing for supporting the same upon thecomplete opening of the parachute, a cap for the parachute casing, avertical guide engaging the parachute caslng, a movable support engagingsaid guide and connected to the cap, means between said guide andparachute casing andbetween the support, and the cap for relativelyturning the same and initially unlocking the cap from the parachutecasing upon the positioning of the latter in the guide, and releasablemeans for holding the parachute casing and the cap support in raisedposition.

4. An illuminating parachute flare, comprising a luminant casing havinga hook on one side, a parachute casing connected to the upper end of theluminant casing and open at its upper end, a parachute in the parachutecasing connected to the luminant casing, a cap on the upper end of theparachute casing, means operable upon the relative rotation of the capand casing for releasing thecap from the casing, a vertical supportingguide having a vertical way therein adapted to receive said hook to holdthe casing from turning during upward movement on the vertical guide, aslidable support mounted on the guide and engaging said cap to hold thesame in relative position with respect to the guide, said support andsaid way being disposed in relatively angular relation for relativelyturning the cap on the casing upon the upward movement of the flare onsaid vertical support, and latching means carried by the verticalsupport for engaging the hook on the casing to support the same in theguide. l

5. An illuminating parachute flare, comprisinga double casing, aluminant composition disposed in the lower portion of the easing, aparachute mounted in the upper portion of the casing and connected tothe lower portion thereof, a cap on the upper portion of the casing,said casing and cap having interlocking parts adapted for engagementupon the relative turning of the cap and casing, a vertical guide forthe cap casing, and means between the vertical guide and the casing foreffecting the relative turning of the casing upon the upward movement'ofthe flare on the guide, and means between the guide and the cap to holdthe latter from turning to initially unlock the cap,

6. An illuminating parachute flare, comprising a casing having aparachute compartment in its upper end, a parachute mounted in saidcompartment and connected to the tube, said cover retaining means beingyieldable upon the upward movement of the flare into position in thelaunching tube, a protecting cap on the lower end of the tube to enclosethe flare therein, and releasable means for holding the cap in place.

8. In combination with a flare, a launching tube theretor,means forreleasably supporting the flare in the tube, a closure cap, andreleasable means for holding the cap on the lower end of the tube toenclose the flare therein, said releasable holding means adapted toyield under weight of the flare when released, whereby downward movementof the flare is adapted to remove the cap from the tube and open thelatter.'

9. In combination with a casing having a plurality of flare receivingcompartments, a flare for each compartment and having a laterallyextending hook, a latch lever for each compartment adapted to engage thehook of the respective flare for supporting the latter in itscompartment, a releasing bar slidably arranged across said latch levers,

abutting means spaced along said releasing bar at consecutivelyincreasing distances from the respective latch levers, a reciprocatingmember, and means between the reciprocating member and .the releasingbar for advancing the releasing bar in successive steps upon therepeated operation of the reciprocating member for actuating said latchlevers one at a time and in successive order.

SAMUEL -WILEY.

casing, a cap closing the casing, interlocking means between the cap andcasing for engagement upon the relative turning of the cap and casing, avertical guide for the cap and easing, a latch for engagement with saidcasing to hold the casing and the cap in raised position, releasingmeans for said latch arranged between the same and said cap forinitially turning the cap into unlocked position and subsequentlyreleasing said casing, whereby the casing and cap are permitted to fall,and means lying in the path of the cap for arresting the downwardmovement thereof to free the cap from the casing after a predetermineddownward movement of the same.

7. In combination" with a flare having a case with a-cover, a launchingtube for the flare, a releasing device on the tube for freeing theflare, retaining means on the tube tor engagementwith said cover forretain-. ing the same'when the flare caseleaves the

